adminAustin Chiwetu (30), of Number 11 Bowness Road, Morningside had pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mrs Judith Zuyu.
One year of his sentence was suspended for five years on condition that he is not within that period convicted of a similar offence.
A further three years were suspended on condition that he pays restitution of $25 550 on or before 31 January next year.
He had already paid back $3 000.
His co-accused Alfonse Tirivanhu Manhire (48), of House Number 65184 Tshabalala is now on a warrant of arrest after he defaulted court prompting the prosecutor, Mr Tinashe Dzipe to apply for a separation of trial.
The court heard that J Mann and Company employed Manhire as a shipping clerk and his duties included receiving invoices from his employer’s suppliers.
He would sign and forward them to the Bulawayo branch director for authorisation of payment by the Harare branch.
It is the State case that on 3 June last year, Manhire approached Chiwetu and they allegedly hatched a plan to defraud J Mann and Company.
The State proved that between 3 June last year and 13 July this year, Chiwetu would raise invoices from his company purporting that his company had supplied goods.
Manhire would allegedly sign the invoices and allegedly forge his director’s signature purporting that payment had been authorised.
He would then send the papers to the Harare branch for payment and $56 778 was deposited into Chiwetu’s account which the two withdrew and shared.
Online Reporter